Short answer: The best tuckpointing St. Louis homeowners can hire in 2026 starts with the mortar: a good tuckpointer matches it to your brick, uses softer lime-based mixes on historic walls, and puts a warranty in writing. Start with Porter Tuckpointing, which picks Type N, S or O mortar for each building, uses lime-based mortar on historic brick and stone foundations, and offers a Lifetime Craftsmanship Guarantee on restoration work. Galati & Sons TuckPointing is the pick for a long-established, tuckpointing-only shop, Dan Milbourn Construction for landmark-level historic restoration, and Mirelli Tuckpointing for spot pointing across a wide service area.
St. Louis is full of brick, and Soulard alone holds what its historic district standards call one of the most intact collections of nineteenth-century architecture in the country, from rowhouses to St. Louis flounder houses. Mortar joints are meant to wear out before the brick does, and repeated freezing and thawing, leaking gutters and hard, mismatched patch jobs speed that up. This guide compares tuckpointers and masonry contractors across the city and county on how they match mortar, what they do beyond joints (chimneys, foundations, lintels), their warranties, and what they say about licensing and insurance. Every firm below had a working website with a current address and phone number when we checked in November 2026.
Every fact on this page comes from the company’s own website or a public source, such as the National Park Service and the City of St. Louis, and we logged each one by URL. When a company states a warranty, founding year or credential, we report it as the company states it. When it doesn’t, we don’t guess. Google ratings are shown as of the noted date (November 2026) and aren’t part of the ranking.
Tuckpointing St. Louis at a glance
| Rank | Company | Best for | What stands out | Based in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Porter Tuckpointing | Historic red-brick homes that need full or spot tuckpointing with lime-based, color-matched mortar | Picks Type N, S or O mortar per building, softer lime mortars for historic brick and stone, Lifetime Craftsmanship Guarantee on restoration | Silverton Pl. (63117), serving City and County |
| 2 | Galati & Sons TuckPointing | Homeowners who want a long-established, family-owned shop that does only tuckpointing and brickwork | Family-owned, says it has served St. Louis for over 80 years, in-house crews, A+ BBB member, fully insured | Shrewsbury (63119) |
| 3 | Dan Milbourn Construction | Historic and landmark masonry restoration with custom mortar matching | Founded in 1969 by a third-generation mason, family-owned, work on the Gateway Arch grounds and the Old Courthouse | Texas Ave., South City (63118) |
| 4 | Mirelli Tuckpointing | Spot tuckpointing with color matching and stone foundation repair across a wide service area | Tuckpointing since 1991, family-owned, says it is state-licensed and insured, serves about a 30-mile radius | S. Big Bend Blvd. (63143) |
| 5 | Massey Tuckpointing & Masonry | South County homeowners who want the same crew start to finish and written guarantees | Since 2002, veteran-founded and family-run, says it is licensed, bonded and insured, free written estimates | Union Rd. (63125) |
| 6 | B&G Tuckpointing | Spot tuckpointing, foundation repair and caulking from an owner with 20+ years in masonry, with financing | Founded 2013, woman-owned, lists Bricklayers Union Local 1, color matching, in-house financing | Ridgewood Ave., South City (63116) |
| 7 | ECI: A Missouri Exterior Co. – The Stone Men | West County homes and commercial buildings that need masonry plus parapets, lintels and steps | Family-owned since 1994, BBB Accredited A+, dedicated tuckpointing and masonry division since August 2026 | Ellisville (63021) |
| 8 | KCB Masonry & Tuckpointing | Budget-minded chimney repair, repointing and brick, block or stone work in South City | Free estimates, affordable pricing, repointing, chimney repair, concrete and waterproofing | Gravois Ave., South City (63116) |
| 9 | Andre Tuckpointing & Brickwork | South City and South County homes that need tuckpointing plus lintels, chimneys or foundations | Third-generation, family-owned, says it has over 30 years of experience, free estimates | S. Broadway (63125) |
| 10 | Pro Install Experts | Homeowners who want roofing and masonry repairs from one veteran-owned contractor | Veteran-owned since 2008, BBB Accredited since 2020, advertises a 10-year workmanship warranty | Weldon Pkwy. (63146) |
How we ranked tuckpointers in St. Louis
- Mortar matching for historic brick. We gave the most weight to firms that explain how they match new mortar to old in color, strength and joint profile, and that use softer lime-based mortar where the brick calls for it. Soulard’s district standards note that most of its brick is red or orange, and the National Park Service warns that mortar harder than the brick can damage it.
- Lime vs. Portland cement know-how. We credited contractors that choose the mortar type (for example Type N, S or O) for each building rather than using one mix everywhere.
- Range of masonry work. Chimneys, stone foundations, lintels, arches, retaining walls and spalled brick replacement often come up once the joints are opened, so firms that handle them in-house ranked higher.
- Warranties and written guarantees. Firms that publish a warranty or written guarantee ranked above those that don’t mention one.
- Licensing, insurance and accreditation. We noted what each firm says about being licensed, bonded or insured, along with BBB accreditation. We report these as the firm states them; ask for proof before work starts.
- Experience and local track record. We noted founding years, family ownership and named local projects where a company publishes them.
- Clear process. Free inspections, written estimates and a defined process from assessment to final walkthrough earned credit.
- Google ratings. Where we show a Google rating, it is as of the noted date (November 2026), and it isn’t part of the ranking.
The best tuckpointers in St. Louis in 2026
1. Porter Tuckpointing
Best for: Historic red-brick homes that need full or spot tuckpointing with lime-based, color-matched mortar.
Porter Tuckpointing is a locally owned and operated masonry contractor at 1410 Silverton Place in St. Louis (63117). It works on residential and commercial buildings across St. Louis City and County, St. Charles, Webster Groves, Kirkwood, Maplewood, Soulard and the Central West End, and it is BBB Accredited. The company says it has restored many historic homes in the Soulard area.
What puts Porter first is how it handles mortar, which is the part of tuckpointing that matters most on old St. Louis brick. It says it chooses Type N, S or O mortar based on the application, the age of the building and its exposure, and that it uses softer, lime-based mortars on historic buildings and stone foundations. It tests pigmented mixes against the existing masonry before it starts, removes old mortar to the proper depth with grinders and chisels, and clears the joints with air and water so the new mortar bonds.
- Tuckpointing: full-structure tuckpointing from foundation to roofline, spot tuckpointing with color matching, chimney tuckpointing and repointing.
- Brick and stone repair: spalled brick replacement, wall rebuilding, retaining walls, lintel replacement and arch reconstruction, veneer re-anchoring, and stone foundation repair in limestone, granite, sandstone and fieldstone.
- Historic restoration: mortar analysis and matching, terra cotta work, and facade cleaning and sealing.
- Extras: brick waterproofing with a breathable water repellent, concrete work, patios and walkways.
Every job starts with a free on-site consultation and a detailed estimate, then moves through design and material planning, the masonry work itself, and a final inspection and walkthrough. Porter says its work carries a workmanship warranty, and its historic restoration page offers a Lifetime Craftsmanship Guarantee on masonry restoration services.
Why it’s #1: Porter matches the mortar to the building instead of using one mix for every job, works on everything from chimneys to stone foundations, and puts a long guarantee behind its restoration work. Phone: (314) 645-7818.
https://portertuckpointing.com/
2. Galati & Sons TuckPointing
Best for: Homeowners who want a long-established, family-owned shop that does only tuckpointing and brickwork.
Galati & Sons TuckPointing is a family-owned company at 4606 St. Vincent Avenue in Shrewsbury (63119), and it says it has served the St. Louis area for over 80 years. It focuses only on tuckpointing and brickwork for homes and commercial buildings, and it says every job is overseen and completed by its own in-house professionals.
Its main service is solid tuckpointing, meaning the old mortar is removed and replaced across the whole surface. It also repairs and rebuilds chimneys, repairs bulging walls, lays new brick, and applies a siloxane waterproofing that it says gives up to 5 to 7 years of protection. Galati lists itself as safety certified by the State of Missouri, fully insured and an A+ BBB member, and it notes an Angie’s List Super Service Award for multiple years. It offers consultations by phone or in person. Phone: (314) 645-5050.
3. Dan Milbourn Construction
Best for: Historic and landmark masonry restoration with custom mortar matching.
Third-generation mason Dan Milbourn founded Dan Milbourn Construction in 1969, and it is still family-owned and operated from 2621 Texas Avenue in South City (63118). Its focus is historic masonry restoration: custom mortar matching and period-correct repairs, plus tuckpointing in which joints are cut out, repacked and tooled to match the original.
Its project list includes some of the most recognizable masonry in town. The company says it replaced the granite pavers at the Gateway Arch entrance and sealed the plaza joints, rebuilt stone chimneys and repaired granite retaining walls and iron fencing at the Old Courthouse, and cleaned and sealed the facade of the Post Office & Customs House. For homes, it also repairs porches and patios, rebuilds chimneys with new crowns and flashing, and does cut stone, fieldstone and retaining wall work. The office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone: (314) 772-0190.
https://www.danmilbournconstruction.com/
4. Mirelli Tuckpointing
Best for: Spot tuckpointing with color matching and stone foundation repair across a wide service area.
Mirelli Tuckpointing, LLC has advertised quality tuckpointing since 1991 and says it has more than 35 years of experience. The family-owned company works from 2619 S. Big Bend Boulevard (63143), describes itself as a state-licensed and insured masonry contractor, and takes both residential and commercial jobs.
Its services cover full tuckpointing, spot pointing with color match, chimney repair, brickwork, stone foundation repair, waterproofing and caulking. Mirelli says it serves roughly a 30-mile radius, including St. Charles, Wentzville, Chesterfield, Clayton, Webster Groves and Affton, so it’s a practical call if you’re outside the city. Estimates are free. Phone: (314) 645-1387.
https://www.mirellituckpointing.com/
5. Massey Tuckpointing & Masonry
Best for: South County homeowners who want the same crew start to finish and written guarantees.
Massey Tuckpointing & Masonry has worked in St. Louis since 2002. It was founded by a military veteran and is now run by the family, with Austin Massey as CEO and his brother Alex overseeing projects. The shop is at 3616 Union Road (63125) and is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Its tuckpointing process grinds out failing joints and repoints them with mortar matched to the original mix. It also inspects, cleans and repairs chimneys, restores masonry, waterproofs brick and seals driveways and walkways. Massey says it is licensed, bonded and insured, provides a free assessment and written estimate, keeps the same crew on a job from start to finish, and offers written guarantees. Its FAQ is refreshingly candid: it says mortar needs temperatures above 40°F to cure, so most restoration waits for spring, and it says it can’t promise an exact color match. It serves Affton, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, St. Louis City and County and Jefferson County. Phone: (314) 200-9488.
https://masseytuckpointing.com/
6. B&G Tuckpointing
Best for: Spot tuckpointing, foundation repair and caulking from an owner with 20+ years in masonry, with financing.
Rich Galati founded B&G Tuckpointing in 2013 and named it after his daughters, Bella and Gabby. The company says he has more than 20 years of masonry experience. It is based at 4539 Ridgewood Avenue in South City (63116), describes itself as a woman-owned business, and lists Bricklayers Union Local 1 on its site.
B&G offers solid tuckpointing for whole walls, spot tuckpointing for areas exposed to water such as chimneys, window frames and the base of a building, chimney crown repair, solid brick foundation repair, and caulking for pool decks, patios and expansion joints. It highlights color matching and in-house financing and offers free inspections and quotes. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone: (314) 363-0525.
7. ECI: A Missouri Exterior Co. – The Stone Men
Best for: West County homes and commercial buildings that need masonry plus parapets, lintels and steps.
ECI: A Missouri Exterior Co. is a second-generation, family-owned exterior contractor that has been privately owned since 1994. It says it isn’t franchised or backed by private equity, and it is BBB Accredited with an A+ rating. On August 13, 2026, it announced a dedicated Tuckpointing & Masonry Division, which it calls The Stone Men. ECI’s Ellisville office is at 16260 Westwoods Business Park (63021).
The masonry division handles tuckpointing and mortar restoration, chimney repair and rebuilding, parapets, lintels, steps and porches, retaining walls and commercial masonry across St. Louis City and County and nearby St. Charles, Jefferson and Franklin counties. Its FAQ gives two useful tips: new mortar may stay visible on weathered masonry, and your written proposal should spell out exactly what work will be done. ECI also does roofing, and it says its phones are answered 24/7. Phone: (314) 996-9486.
https://ecimissouri.com/masonry
8. KCB Masonry & Tuckpointing
Best for: Budget-minded chimney repair, repointing and brick, block or stone work in South City.
KCB Masonry & Tuckpointing, LLC works out of 4161 Gravois Avenue in South City (63116). It covers repointing, chimney repair, brick, block and stone work, concrete and waterproofing, and it promotes free estimates and affordable prices.
KCB is a sensible call for smaller jobs, like a chimney that needs repointing or a few failing courses near the foundation, when you’d like a local South City crew to look at it. Its site lists fewer details about materials and warranties than the firms above, so ask what mortar type it plans to use and what guarantee comes with the work. Phone: (314) 240-9812.
https://www.kcbmasonrytuckpointing.com/
9. Andre Tuckpointing & Brickwork
Best for: South City and South County homes that need tuckpointing plus lintels, chimneys or foundations.
Andre Tuckpointing & Brickwork is a third-generation, family-owned company at 9615 South Broadway (63125). It says it has more than 30 years of experience and works on both homes and commercial buildings.
Along with tuckpointing, it lists bricklaying and masonry, caulking, chimney rebuilding, lintel replacement and foundation work, which covers most of the problems you see on older brick homes. Its listed service areas include South City, South County, Benton Park, Tower Grove and the Central West End. Estimates are free. Phone: (314) 544-0986.
https://www.andretuckpointing.com/
10. Pro Install Experts
Best for: Homeowners who want roofing and masonry repairs from one veteran-owned contractor.
Pro Install Experts (Pro Installation and Design) is a veteran-owned contractor that has operated since 2008 from 2342 Weldon Parkway (63146). It has been BBB Accredited since 2020. Roofing is its main business, but it also offers tuckpointing, brick repair, chimney repair, retaining walls, porches and steps, and concrete.
It’s a good fit when a chimney or parapet needs masonry work at the same time as a roof repair, so one contractor can handle both. The company advertises a 10-year workmanship warranty; ask whether it applies to the masonry portion of your job and get it in writing. Phone: (314) 528-7777.
https://www.proinstallexperts.com/
How to choose a tuckpointing contractor in St. Louis
Start with the mortar, not the price
The National Park Service’s Preservation Brief 2, the standard reference on repointing historic masonry, says new mortar should match the historic mortar in color, texture and tooling, and should be softer and more vapor permeable than the brick. Mortar is supposed to be the sacrificial part of the wall. When a hard Portland cement mortar goes into soft old brick, moisture and stress move through the brick instead, and the faces can crack and spall. Ask every bidder what mortar type they’ll use, why, and whether they’ll make a test panel or sample so you can see the color before they do the whole wall.
Lime vs. Portland cement mortar
Lime and sand mortar was the norm for centuries. Portland cement was first made in the U.S. in 1872 but wasn’t in common use until the early 20th century, so buildings from about 1873 to 1930 can have anything from pure lime mortar to lime and Portland cement blends. ASTM mortar types run from hardest to softest as M, S, N, O and K, and the Park Service recommends soft, high-lime mixes for soft brick. A good tuckpointer will look at your existing mortar before recommending one.
Ask how they remove old mortar
The Park Service says old mortar should be removed to a depth of 2 to 2½ times the joint width, which for most brick joints means about ½ to 1 inch. It calls hand chisels the least damaging method and warns that power grinders in unskilled hands can chip brick edges and overcut the vertical joints. Ask what tools the crew uses and how they protect the brick.
Fix the water problem first
Failing mortar is often a symptom. The Park Service says leaking roofs and gutters, settlement, rising damp and extreme exposure should be fixed before repointing, or the new mortar will fail too. Chimneys and parapets take the most weather, so many St. Louis jobs pair tuckpointing with chimney crowns, flashing or lintel work. That’s where firms like Porter, Dan Milbourn and ECI, which do that work themselves, have an edge.
Tuckpointing St. Louis homes in historic districts: check permits
If your home is in a City of St. Louis historic district, the Cultural Resources Office says exterior work needs a permit and lists repointing among the regulated work, though it says repointing permits may be approved over the counter. Soulard’s district standards recommend hand removal where possible, a soft mix of 1 part cement, 2 parts lime and 7 parts sand, and matching the color and joint style of the existing brickwork. Ask your contractor if they’ve worked under your district’s standards before.
Verify insurance and get it in writing
We couldn’t find a statewide Missouri license specific to masonry or tuckpointing contractors, so ask for a certificate of insurance and any city or county license or permit your project needs. Get a written estimate and warranty that spell out the scope: which walls, full or spot pointing, mortar type, brick replacement and cleanup. ECI makes the same point in its FAQ: the proposal should say exactly what work will be done.
Plan around the weather
Mortar has to cure without freezing or drying too fast. The Park Service puts the safe range at wall temperatures between 40 and 95 degrees F, and Massey Tuckpointing says most restoration waits for spring because mortar needs temperatures above 40 degrees F. St. Louis’s freeze-thaw winters are hard on open joints, so book an inspection in late winter and get on a crew’s schedule for spring.
Red flags
- A bidder who uses the same mix on every job or can’t tell you what mortar type they plan to use.
- Smearing new mortar over old joints (surface grouting) instead of cutting them out. The Park Service doesn’t recommend it for historic masonry.
- No street address, no proof of insurance, or pressure to sign the same day.
- Sandblasting or acid washing old brick. Soulard’s standards prohibit abrasive blasting because it destroys the brick’s hard outer surface.
- A price with no written scope or warranty.
Bottom line: For tuckpointing St. Louis brick, start with Porter Tuckpointing for building-specific, lime-based mortar matching and a lifetime guarantee on restoration work. Galati & Sons is the pick for a long-running, tuckpointing-only family shop, Dan Milbourn Construction for landmark-grade historic restoration, and Mirelli for spot pointing across a wide area. South County homeowners should also call Massey or Andre, and West County owners have ECI’s masonry division in Ellisville.
Looking for more St. Louis home guides? See our best roofers in St. Louis and best security system companies in St. Louis lists, or browse more industry guides from Insite Advice.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the best tuckpointer in St. Louis?
Porter Tuckpointing is our top pick for 2026. It chooses Type N, S or O mortar for each building, uses softer lime-based mortar on historic brick and stone foundations, tests color-matched mixes against the existing masonry, and offers a Lifetime Craftsmanship Guarantee on masonry restoration. Galati & Sons TuckPointing, Dan Milbourn Construction and Mirelli Tuckpointing are also strong choices.
What is the difference between tuckpointing and repointing?
Both terms are used for removing deteriorated mortar from the joints of a brick or stone wall and replacing it with new mortar. Technically, the National Park Service notes that tuckpointing describes a mostly decorative raised or lime putty joint applied over flush mortar joints, while repointing is the repair itself. In St. Louis, most contractors use the two words interchangeably.
Should old St. Louis brick be repointed with lime mortar or Portland cement mortar?
Match the mortar to the building. The National Park Service's Preservation Brief 2 says new mortar should be softer and more vapor permeable than the brick and no harder than the historic mortar, because hard Portland cement mortar can trap moisture and cause soft brick to crack and spall. Mortar in buildings from roughly 1873 to 1930 can range from pure lime and sand to lime and Portland cement blends, so ask your contractor to examine the existing mortar first. Porter Tuckpointing, for example, says it uses softer lime-based mortars on historic buildings.
How long does tuckpointing last?
The National Park Service says a good repointing job should last at least 30 years, and preferably 50 to 100. Local contractors give their own estimates: Porter Tuckpointing says 20 to 30 years or more, and Massey Tuckpointing says 15 to 30 years. Lifespan depends on the mortar, the workmanship and how much water reaches the wall, so fix leaking gutters and downspouts first.
When is the best time of year for tuckpointing in St. Louis?
Mortar needs mild weather to cure. The National Park Service says wall temperatures between 40 and 95 degrees F prevent freezing or excessive drying, and Massey Tuckpointing says mortar needs temperatures above 40 degrees F, so most restoration waits for spring. The Park Service also says repointing is ideally done in the shade, away from strong sunlight, especially in hot weather.
Do I need a permit for tuckpointing in a St. Louis historic district?
If your property is in a City of St. Louis historic district, the city's Cultural Resources Office says you need a permit for all exterior work except painting wood trim, and it lists repointing (sometimes called tuckpointing) among that work. It says repointing permits may be approved over the counter. Districts also have their own standards; Soulard's, for example, recommend removing old mortar by hand where possible, a soft mix of 1 part cement, 2 parts lime and 7 parts sand, and matching the color and tooling of the existing joints. Check with the Cultural Resources Office before work starts.
How do I know if my brick needs tuckpointing?
The National Park Service lists common signs: disintegrating mortar, cracks in mortar joints, loose bricks or stones, damp walls and damaged interior plaster. It also warns that repointing won't fix problems caused by leaking roofs or gutters, settlement or rising damp, so those causes should be repaired first. A free inspection from one of the firms on this list will tell you whether you need spot repairs or a full wall.
Is full tuckpointing or spot tuckpointing better?
The National Park Service says it's usually better to repoint only the areas that need it, but if 25 to 50 percent or more of a wall needs work, repointing the whole wall may be more cost-effective, especially when scaffolding is required. Several firms here offer both, including Porter Tuckpointing, Mirelli Tuckpointing and B&G Tuckpointing, which all list spot tuckpointing with color matching.